Travelling without the company of a mahram

Q. Can you tell me if it is permissible for a married woman to travel to, for example, work in another country or for her own pleasure without being accompanied by her husband?

A. A female person—whether single, married, or divorced—is not permitted to undertake a journey of three days or more without being accompanied by a Mahram. According to the jurists, a journey of three days is equivalent to a distance of 48 miles. A Mahram is a man with whom a woman is not permitted to marry under any circumstances, such as her father, brother, paternal and maternal uncle, nephew, etc.

In a hadeeth in Bukhari Sharif, narrated by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (Radiyallahu ‘anhuma), Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"It is not halaal (permissible) for a woman to undertake a journey of three days unless she is accompanied by someone who is her Mahram."

According to another hadeeth in Muslim Sharif, narrated by Hadhrat Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri (Radiyallahu ‘anhu), Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"It is not halaal (permissible) for a woman who believes in Allah Ta‘ala and the Last Day to undertake a journey of three days or more unless she is in the company of her father, her son, her husband, her brother, or someone who is a mahram to her."

When a female person leaves her house without the company of a mahram, it is so harmful and dangerous that in certain cases—where there is a danger of fitnah—Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) even prohibited women from undertaking a journey of less than three days without a mahram. In other words, a journey of three days is not permissible for a woman without the company of her mahram, while for a journey of less than three days, fitnah becomes the determining factor in its permissibility. That is, if there is a risk of fitnah, then a woman is prohibited from going out without her mahram, even if the journey is less than three days.

We better understand the seriousness of a woman travelling without her mahram when we consider that Nabi-e-Karim (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) authorised a Sahaabi (Radiyallahu ‘anhu) to accompany his wife for Hajj instead of participating in Jihaad.

Indeed, according to a hadith in Bukhari Sharif, reported by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (Radiyallahu ‘anhuma), Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Women should not travel without the company of a mahram. No man should come to her (a woman) unless she has a mahram at home."

At that time, a Sahaabi (Radiyallahu ‘anhu) asked:

"O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam), I intend to go for Jihaad and my wife is going for Hajj."

In response, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Go together with her (your wife)."

If a woman is not allowed to perform Hajj without a Mahram, it is even more evident that she is not allowed to undertake a journey of 48 miles or more—whether for work or for pleasure—without the company of a Mahram.

Undoubtedly, when a woman leaves her home without any necessity, and especially without the company of her Mahram, it is harmful both for the woman herself and for others. It is even more dangerous in the case of a married woman.

In light of the Ahaadith, we see that a woman is neither permitted to travel nor to stay in a place alone without the company of a Mahram, especially in the current context.

[English version of " Voyager sans se faire accompagner d'un mahram " – Al Haadi – Vol. 2 No. 9,10]